Talking About Men's Health™

According to the 2009 National Healthcare Disparities Report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), “American men with prostate cancer were 25 percent less likely to die from the disease in 2006 than they were in 1999.”  “The rate at which American men died from prostate cancer declined from 31 deaths to 23.5 deaths per 100,000 males during the period.”[1]

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Receiving a cancer diagnosis is stressful enough – sorting through treatment options and seeking a second or third opinion can be overwhelming for the prostate cancer patient and loved ones.

That is why Women Against Prostate Cancer (WAPC) has developed the booklet, A Woman’s Guide to Prostate Cancer Treatment: Supporting the Man in Your Life, to educate you and your family about the variety of prostate cancer treatments that are available and some of the key factors that will come into play when choosing a treatment path.

Download a free copy of A Woman’s Guide to Prostate Cancer Treatment: Supporting the Man in Your Life here.

For many men around the country, September is significant for one reason and one reason only…the start of new seasons of college and professional football. Roster depth analysis, fantasy football drafts, and the office betting pool all begin to take place this month. But as important as keeping up with football stats may be for so many Americans, few put the same amount of time and effort into keeping up with their own health stats. September should also hold a place of importance in men’s calendars because it is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

Every September, special attention is placed on one of the few disease exclusively affecting men. Prostate cancer has consistently ranked as the most common form of cancer within the United States over the last decade, beating out breast, lung, and colon cancers every year. And when paired with the male tendency to shy away from doctor’s appointments, this disease represents an issue of real concern in the world of men’s health. So in honor of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and the health of men everywhere, here are a few quick tips for staying competitive in the battle against prostate cancer.

Know Your Opponent

• Prostate cancer affects 1 in 6 American men, with more than 2 million American men currently living with the condition.
• Men are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than women are to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
• Prostate cancer can be diagnosed in men as early as in their 30’s.
• The cancer is highly treatable in the early stages, with an almost perfect treatment rate, so early detection is very important.
• Delayed detection and treatment can be deadly, with almost 90 American men dying from the disease daily.

Checking Your Stats

• African American men are 40% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than Caucasian men, making it that much more important for this group to schedule regular checkups with their doctor.
• Family history plays an important role in the development of the disease, with the risk doubling for men with fathers or brothers who have been diagnosed.
• It is recommended that men receive a “baseline” prostate screening, testing for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, and a digital rectal exam at age 40.  They should discuss the possibility of yearly exams thereafter with their physicians.  Men with family history of prostate issues should discuss earlier screening initiation with their doctor.
• Know Your Number: Keep track of your PSA results for each screening, making sure to write the number down in a safe place each year.

Making a Winning Gameplan

• Maintain a healthy weight through good nutrition and an active lifestyle.
• Increase your ‘good’ fats, such as the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, and keep ‘bad’ fats like those found in margarine to a minimum.
• Vary your diet…try to include foods that have been seen to be beneficial, such as tomatoes, broccoli, and cauliflower, into your regular diet.
• Keep smoking, alcohol intake, and unnecessary stress to a minimum.

Deanna R. Fowler, MPH is the Community Health Promotion Coordinator for Women Against Prostate Cancer

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About Women Against Prostate Cancer:

www.womenagainstprostatecancer.org

Women Against Prostate Cancer (WAPC) is a national organization working to unite the voices and provide support for the millions of women affected by prostate cancer, and their families. WAPC advocates prostate cancer education, public awareness, screenings, legislation, and treatment options.

Dear Mr. Dad: My five-year old is going to start school in the Fall. He’s all excited about the whole idea of Kindergarten but I’m nervous. What can my husband and I do to prepare ourselves?

A: The first day of school is always a big day for kids—and sometimes a bigger day for mom and dad. Even though most kids these days have spent at least some time away from home in preschool or daycare, they’ve been hearing about this mysterious place called “school” from about the time they could walk. For you, the closest equivalent to the first day of kindergarten might be starting a new job in England. The language is the same, but you’re not really sure of the rules and the customs.

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do before school gets started to smooth out the transition for all of you:

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Everybody talks about the diagnosis and treatment of prostate enlargement and prostate cancer? Why doesn’t everybody talk about the diagnosis and treatment of chronic prostatitis?

Prostatitis is loosely and simplistically divided into acute and chronic classes. Acute prostatitis is very often young man’s bacterial infection; it is usually easily treated with antibiotics. Acute prostatitis can recur but does not necessarily transform into the chronic condition, with many men having a few episodes that then stop recurring.

Chronic prostatitis is characterized by frequent episodic or sustained pain potentially so severe that some victims become suicidal. The pain can affect a broad range of sites – perineum, penis, rectum, lower back, lower abdomen, legs – and it is usually associated with coexisting ailments: fatigue, inability to think clearly, and depression. Specific triggers may include such normal events as ejaculation, but are often hard to identify. Because of its debilitating effects, chronic prostatitis interferes with professional responsibilities and with personal relationships; it has been blamed for social isolation, divorce, and lack of employment.

Chronic prostatitis is often not a bacterial infection; while antibiotics are usually prescribed, they are often useless. Patients thus face other treatment options and some indeed respond to a variety of strategies, some better validated than others: Massage, trigger point release, intra-prostatic injections of antibiotics, herbal supplements, hypnosis, acupuncture, and anti-inflammatory medications. But when these treatments do not work, men with chronic prostatitis then become the sort of patient few doctors want to see: The one who complains but for whom there is no remedy. They become the patient whose problem is “all in his head.”

So is there any hope? In 2007, a prostatitis patient named David had lost hope after dutifully seeking cure for 8 years of severe symptoms. At the “end of my rope,” he asked to have his prostate removed. After extensive discussion about lack of scientific proof and all kinds of risk, he had a laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, a common treatment for prostate cancer, which immediately, completely, and durably eliminated his symptoms: It has been 3 years and he is completely asymptomatic and fully functional.

In response to the experience with David, the Krongrad Institute, which did his surgery, is conducting a clinical trial to quantify the effect of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy on the symptoms of chronic prostatitis.  The idea is to see if David was an exception or the rule. It is also to allow tomorrow’s patients to make informed decisions about the role of surgery.

Chronic prostatitis can last decades and destroy all semblance of normal life. It affects thousands of men and their families. We need to talk about chronic prostatitis. For more information, readers are encouraged to check out the Prostatitis Surgery web site and the Prostatitis Blog.

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Blurb about today’s Guest Blogger:

Arnon Krongrad, MD is a urologist who specializing in the use of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of prostate cancer and severe, treatment-resistant chronic prostatitis.

By Dr. Michael J Rovito

The beginning of the Fall semester is exciting. Everyone can agree on that. You’ll have new friends, new parties, new classes, new relationships, and new experiences. However, something lost in the hurricane of activity any given male college student will endure is PROPER NUTRITION. Continue Reading